Newcastle 0 - Manchester City 2: City get lucky as Cheick Tiote's screamer is ruled out

It might have been Edin Dzeko's eighth-minute opener and Alvaro Negredo's injury-time clincher which earned City their ninth successive league win against Newcastle, but this was all about the goal that didn't count.

Cheick Tiote has only once found the net in a black and white shirt, a stunning 30-yard screamer which capped a memorable Toon comeback in a 4-4 draw against Arsenal three years ago.

The Ivorian midfielder has always claimed since that he had never scored a better one.

But yesterday he did, only for his 34th-minute thunderbolt to be ruled out in one of the most controversial decisions of this or any other season. His left-foot scorcher was hit with such ferocity, it would have beaten Joe Hart under any circumstance.

Tiote celebrated, along with his ecstatic team-mates, oblivious to City's protests behind them.

Three Newcastle players, most obviously Yoan Gouffran, were offside as the ball flew off his boot. While the Frenchman had to react suddenly to prevent it hitting him, none were in Hart's line of sight.

But after consulting with linesman Stephen Child, referee Mike Jones chalked off the goal, sparking scenes of outrage and disbelief on the pitch, in the home dug-out and in the stands. This was fast, frantic, feisty and furious with a few F-filled rants from a livid Newcastle boss Alan Pardew thrown in for good measure.

It threatened to turn ugly as Pardew vented his anger at City boss Manuel Pellegrini before confronting the match officials. While his foul-mouthed tirade could not be excused, it was hard not to feel sorry for Tiote and his team.

Tirade Referees have been asked to apply common sense and while under the letter of the law three home players had strayed beyond the last defender, none influenced the goal.

The remaining hour was played out to a backdrop of collective Geordie injustice on and off the pitch. And when Negredo ran on to sub James Milner's pass in the 95th minute to score past Tim Krul at the second attempt, the two-goal margin of defeat only rubbed salt into gaping Newcastle wounds.

This was their fourth defeat in a row, but City will not have to work harder for a win for the rest of the season.

THE GOAL THAT NEVER WAS: Cheick Tiote shoots from the edge of the box but three Newcastle players were offside [SKY]

“after consulting with linesman Stephen Child, referee Mike Jones chalked off the goal, sparking scenes of outrage and disbelief on the pitch”

With the 49,423 crowd driving them on, the Toon carved out several chances in the second half. Yohan Cabaye forced a fine save out of Hart and then saw a 30-yarder dip just too late.

And after Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta collided in trying to clear a Gouffran cross, Hart came to his side's rescue, thwarting Loic Remy with his legs.

Newcastle must have known it was not to be their day, in the 89th minute, when Steven Taylor's shot looked destined for the net, only for Aleksandar Kolarov to produce a goal-saving block.

But City could have wrapped it up before Negredo bagged his 19th goal of the campaign. The Spaniard was magnificently foiled in the 55th minute when Krul somehow kept out his plunging header and had another effort hacked off the line by Taylor, while Fernandino volleyed against the bar.

Challenge City might have wilted at the sight of Samir Nasri being carried off with 15 minutes left with his legs strapped after a challenge by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa which Pellegrini claimed should have resulted in a red card.

But the league leaders aren't just a prolific goal machine, they're mean, too.

And they had to be at their most defiant against a Newcastle side who played just as well as they had in beating Manchester United and Chelsea. It had all looked plain sailing for City when Dzeko fired them ahead inside 10 minutes.

Gouffran was caught napping as Kolarov raced on to David Silva's clever pass and when the full-back crossed, the Bosnian nipped in ahead of Taylor to rifle home at the near post.

But City, and Yaya Toure in particular, were sloppy at times, and gradually Newcastle gained a foothold.

But were denied by that 34th-minute incident, which shaped the rest of the game and could yet have a bearing on the title race.